The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has officially commenced the registration process for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026. Aspiring law students can now submit their applications online through the official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in. The deadline for registration is October 31, 2025. The CLAT 2026 exam is scheduled to be held on December 7, 2025.
The CLAT is a national-level entrance exam conducted for admissions to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs offered by 24 participating National Law Universities (NLUs) and other affiliated law colleges across India. Approximately 60,000 candidates are expected to appear for the CLAT UG exam, and around 10,000 for CLAT PG.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates seeking admission to undergraduate law programs through CLAT 2026 must have passed their Class 12 or equivalent examination from a recognized board. General category candidates should have a minimum of 45% marks, while SC/ST/PwD candidates need 40% marks. Candidates appearing for their Class 12 exams in March/April 2026 are also eligible to apply, provided they submit their qualifying certificates at the time of admission.
For CLAT PG 2026, applicants must hold an LLB degree with at least 50% marks from a university recognized by the Bar Council of India. A minimum of 45% is required for SC/ST candidates. Candidates appearing for their final year LLB exams in March/April 2026 are also eligible to apply.
There is no upper age limit to appear for the CLAT exam. Both Indian nationals and NRIs are eligible to apply.
Application Process
To apply for CLAT 2026, candidates must first register on the official website using their personal mobile number and email ID. An OTP will be sent to the mobile number for verification. Once verified, candidates can log in using the registered mobile number and password.
The application fee is ₹4,000 for General/OBC/NRI candidates and ₹3,500 for SC/ST/BPL/PwD candidates. The fee can be paid online only and is non-refundable. Candidates can also access previous year's question papers for an additional ₹500.
Exam Pattern
The CLAT 2026 exam will be conducted offline. The CLAT UG question paper consists of five sections: English Language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. The exam includes 120 multiple-choice questions, each carrying one mark. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer. The total duration of the exam is 2 hours.
Top Law Colleges in India
While CLAT scores are accepted by numerous law colleges, the 24 NLUs are the primary institutions for which the exam is conducted. Here's a list of some of the top law colleges in India:
This list is not exhaustive, and the ranking of law colleges may vary depending on the source.
Candidates are advised to visit the official CLAT website (consortiumofnlus.ac.in) and the websites of participating NLUs for detailed information about the exam, syllabus, and admission procedures.
